The China Mail - Haliburton says no regrets after Achilles tendon surgery

The 25-year-old posted a message on X with himself in a hospital bed making the shape of a heart with his hands after undergoing surgery in New York on Monday.

"Man. Don't know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable," Haliburton wrote. "I've worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense."

Haliburton played with a calf strain for the Pacers in Sunday's winner-take-all game seven of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City. He fell to the court untouched and in pain about seven minutes into the decisive contest, which the host Thunder won to take the title.

"Honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don't regret it," wrote Haliburton. "I'd do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special."

Haliburton had been averaging 17.7 points and an NBA-best 9.0 assists a game in the playoffs, leading a charge by the Pacers for what they hoped would be the team's first NBA crown in a basketball-crazy state.

"Indy, I'm sorry. If any fan base doesn't deserve this, it's y'all," Haliburton wrote. "But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don't doubt for a second that y'all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours."

Haliburton joked about how often he has been told he will come back stronger from the setback, although he gave no timeframe for such a comeback from an injury that has typically cost players an entire season while rehabilitating.

"Now that I've gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I'm going to 'come back stronger'. What a cliche lol, this (stuff) sucks," Haliburton wrote.

"My foot feels like dead weight. But what's hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I'm rambling, but I know this is something I'll look back on when I'm through this, as something I'm proud I fought through.

"It feels good to let this... out without y'all seeing the kid ugly cry."

- 'Watch how I come back' -

Haliburton cited the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant in summing up his feelings about his own situation.

"I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation," Haliburton wrote. "'There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.'

"And that's exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right. My journey to get to where I am today wasn't by happenstance, I've pushed myself every day to be great. And I will continue to do just that."

"I don't 'have to' go through this, I get to go through this," he added.

"I'm grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I'll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton."

V.Liu--ThChM